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The second and final registration weekend for the 2014 general election will take place on Saturday 8 February and Sunday 9 February.According to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) its call centre and social media platforms are still inundated with interest on further registration opportunities from eligible voters who are not yet registered. The February registration weekend will be the final opportunity for new voters to register and for registered voters to change their voting station ahead of the elections. “There are currently 24 112 414 registered voters (76,7%) and the IEC hopes to reach 80% registration of eligible voters ahead of the election,” states a media release issued by the IEC.

The IEC said raising registration levels among young people remains a challenge; especially those aged 18 to 19, whose registration levels are the lowest of any age group at less than 23%. It is expected that the President will proclaim the election date shortly after the February registration weekend.To check your registration details call the IEC’s toll free number 0800 11 8000 (daily between 08:00 and 17:00); SMS your ID number to 32810; or visit website www.elections.org.za and click on the link labelled: ‘Am I registered’.

Port Elizabeth - A forensic probe has revealed several discrepancies in the Nkwanca municipality, provincial government has announced.

Local Government MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane said the appointment of the municipality’s manager was not above board. “The appointment has been found to lack transparency and is blatantly plagued with manipulations of due process,” he said.

The probe found that due process was not followed in buying municipal vehicles, with higher prices paid than those quoted. It also said the municipality charged much more than other towns for graves.

Qoboshiyane said cemetery tariffs had also increased by an average of 48.73%. Service providers were appointed without a proper bidding process. One councillor was found not to have been transparent in hiring workers for the municipality’s housing settlement projects.

The municipality would get a financial management plan from the provincial government.

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On Wednesday afternoon Metro Police officers rescued and arrested two men they found being assaulted by a mob for allegedly committing a robbery in End Street, Joburg CBD.

Johannesburg Central police spokesperson Captain John Maluleke said four suspects threatened a motorist with a gun at the End and Hoek streets intersection and demanded his cellphone. “They then took his cellphone, which is worth R2 000, and tried to escape. Community members came to the rescue of the victim and caught two of the suspects, who were then taken to the police station by Metro Police officers. The men have been charged with armed robbery, while the other two suspects are still at large,” he said.

Captain Maluleke applauded the role played by the community and the Metro Police in the fight against crime. “We as the SAPS appreciate the partnership with the other role players in a working relationship to prevent crime.” Captain Maluleke would however not be drawn to comment about that one of the suspects who were arrested had been severely assaulted, allegedly by some community members. “As the SAPS we cannot comment about that, otherwise the officers who were there should have arrested them,” he said.